Partnership for Development

The philosophy underpinning our work is aligned with that expressed by the following welcoming statement of the Global Forum on Migration and Development Government Meeting, held in Athens, Greece, November 4-5, 2009:

Welcome
Note

Migration and Development are traditionally treated as
separate policy issues. In today’s globalized world, however, no country can
succeed in its social and economic efforts unless it considers migration as a
tool for development.

The First Global Forum on Migration and Development
focused on means to substantially increase the developmental effects of
migration. The Second Global Forum on Migration and Development emphasized on
protecting and empowering migrants in an environment of secure and managed
global migration flows.

The Third Global Forum on Migration and Development
attempts to do something different: to bring out ways of accommodating
migration through developmental actions and thinking, because migration is a
consequence – not the cause – of the lack of development. We do not view
migration as a substitute for development, as we do not believe that
development should be a substitute for migration either. These two processes
should work together to create a better world for everybody; they should work
together to increase the standards of living around the world. This is the base
of our thinking; this is the core of our philosophy that guides us in the 2009
Global Forum of Migration and Development.

Our thinking about incorporating migration into
development is based on our strong belief that future labor migration should be
mostly propelled by choice rather than necessity or need. When more people
migrate out of choice than desperation, they contribute more to the benefit of
their countries of origin and destination and they lead more secure lives. When
migration is mostly out of choice, development is further enhanced, creating
more opportunity and freedom around the world. These two forces can change the
world without substituting for each other. We need them both if we want to
witness in our lifetime a world with more freedom, opportunity and choice for
everybody.

The third GFMD aims to look into concrete ways and
practices to enhance this freedom. It will also attempt to identify sustainable
migration policies that will lead to improved development outcomes and promote
a more dynamic partnership between countries of origin, transit and
destination.